Partial menisectomy Vs repair in combined traumatic ACL and medial meniscus injuries. A systematic review of long-term outcomes.

Abstract

ACL rupture combined with medial meniscus tear can lead to clinical and radiological changes in the knee • Commonly these changes are not directly correlated as patients may show radiographic signs of osteoarthritis despite showing good subjective scores (subclinical osteoarthritis). • These changes are related to severity of the initial trauma. • Outcomes of ACL reconstruction combined with medial partial menisectomy shows lower scores compared to ACL reconstruction with normal medial meniscus. Outcomes of ACL reconstruction combined with medial meniscus repair shows similar scores to normal medial meniscus. Accordingly, surgeons should, when possible, always try to suture meniscal tears in order to protect the ACL graft and obtain better long-term outcomes.